Speech #630424187

German. and English extraction. Now the children of these same men are engaged in the skilled trades at wages from 25 to 50 per cent more than they were paid 30 years ago. The effect of immigration has been to force up the wages of the immigrant of 30 years ago. who is the American of today. Common labor in the city of New York is now almost entirely performed by the Italians and the other races from southern Europe. We have spent in New York State during the past eight years on the roads in oulr rural communities and in the rebuilding of the Erie Canal over $150.000.000. and have now under contract or in contemplation the expenditure of over $300.000.000 for the extension of our great subway system in the city of New York.